Storage always seems to be in short supply no matter what size your home is. Ottoman storage beds have become the top choice for modern homes to solve storage problems. They offer extra storage space under the mattress to keep bedding, extra clothes and different items. Ottoman bed frames are versatile, stylish, and affordable, giving you all the reasons to invest in them. But before you buy an ottoman base, a few things are worth knowing that we are going to discuss here!
What is an ottoman bed?
An ottoman bed refers to a frame that has a neat lifting base. The entire mattress system is lifted by hydraulic pistons that expose a large space below. There, you can store anything like spare bedding, suitcases, off-season clothes, and pretty much anything else that you don’t want to look at. They are space-saving, which means you can confidently buy them if you are short on space. Everything is hidden inside the base, keeping the room looking neat and tidy. Ottoman frames come in wood, velvet, faux leather, and boucle bed finishes, so they go well with your overall room decor.
How does an ottoman bed work?
Ottoman beds lift up from either the side or the foot end of the bed, depending on the design. You take hold of the handle, pull upwards, and the pistons carry almost all of the weight of the mattress and the base. The frame then holds itself open while you reach inside, so you never have to prop it up with your shoulder. A strap at the opening edge lets you start the lift, and then hydraulic gas struts take over the weight of the mattress so you can raise it with minimal effort.
The gas lift mechanism is the key differentiator between a good and a bad ottoman bed frame. You would be trying to lift 40 to 80 kg of mattress on your own without quality struts, which is not practical or safe.
What are the benefits of ottoman beds?
There are many benefits you can enjoy after investing in ottoman beds such as space saving, a classy bed design, extra storage space to hide lots and versatility.
Ottoman beds offer more storage than a standard divan with drawers. Instead of two or four small drawers, you get the entire area underneath the mattress, which is enough for duvets, pillows, seasonal bedding, towels, shoes, and boxes.
They are particularly useful in three situations
● Small bedrooms as no floor space is needed for opening drawers.
● Bedside lockers in the way because drawers cannot open, but an ottoman lifts upward.
● Apartments or rentals where they replace the need for a separate chest of drawers or wardrobe.
Please note: Do not keep extra heavy items in the ottoman storage, as these beds have specific weight limits for what you store inside. Avoid storing extremely heavy items like tools or anything. Stick to bedding, clothing, and soft goods to protect the gas struts and base construction.
What are the types of ottoman bases?
Ottoman beds are available in two different types including a solid base or sprung slats. Your choice changes how firm the bed feels and how well air moves through the mattress. Both sit above the same storage compartment.
Solid base
A solid base gives the mattress one flat, continuous platform to sit on. Support stays even across the whole surface, and the platform handles heavy mattresses without flexing anywhere. Firmness increases noticeably, so a medium mattress feels firmer on a solid base than on slats. Choose solid if you prefer a firm sleep surface or if your mattress is thick and weighty.
Sprung slats
The shape of sprung slats is slightly upward curved. This gives a springier surface on which your mattress can rest. This accentuates the tension of softer and medium mattresses. Sprung slats consist of a more flexible kind of wood to avoid cracking and strain. They are normally run to the halfway point in the bed. The bed frame has plastic pockets on the end rail and middle rail on which either end of the slat is fixed. This is to make sure that the slats remain in position and could give that suitably bouncy feel.
What are the things to consider while buying an ottoman bed?
Measure your room and your ceiling before you look at anything else. Ottoman beds need vertical clearance and a clear opening path, and both are easy to forget while you are busy choosing a colour. Work through the checklist below before you order.
- Bed size against room size: Leave enough walking space around the frame once the bed is in position. A super king looks tempting until you cannot open the wardrobe.
- Ceiling height and light fittings: The base rises to roughly the height of the frame and mattress combined. Sloped ceilings and low pendant lights get in the way.
- Which way it opens: A side lift bed cannot open against a wall. Check the free space on the side you plan to use before you commit.
- Mattress weight limit: Every ottoman comes with the maximum mattress weight for its pistons. Heavy pocket sprung mattresses can easily push past it.
- Storage depth and weight capacity: Product pages list the internal depth. Compare that figure against the suitcases and boxes you want to store.
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Delivery route and assembly: Flat-packed frames arrive in several heavy boxes. Check your stairs, doorways and turning space first.
Do ottoman beds use a baseboard under the storage area?
Most ottoman beds include a baseboard under the storage area, though the type varies from build to build. Ottoman divan bases almost always use a solid boarded panel, which lifts your belongings clear of the carpet and holds heavy loads without sagging. Slatted ottoman frames often use a stretched fabric base instead, and that suits lighter items such as bedding, towels and clothing. Some frames leave the floor itself as the storage surface, with a fabric skirt around the edge that creates a shadow effect under the bed. Read the product description carefully, because a fabric base or an open floor changes what you can safely store. Anything heavy belongs on a boarded base.
What is an ottoman baseboard made from?
Divan beds store things in drawers built into the sides or the foot of the base. Ottoman beds lift the entire top and open up everything underneath. A four drawer divan gives you neat, quick access to smaller items, and you never have to move the mattress to reach them. An ottoman gives you one deep compartment that swallows suitcases, spare duvets and boxes no drawer could take. Drawers also need clear floor space to slide out, which a small bedroom rarely has going spare. For most UK bedrooms the ottoman comes out ahead, mainly because you gain far more storage and need less room around the bed to use it. Divans still make sense if you open your storage several times a day and want it in seconds.
Can a mattress sit properly on an ottoman bed, or will it slide?
A mattress sits properly on an ottoman as manufacturers fit a band of non slip fabric across the platform. This grips the underside of the mattress as the frame lifts. This means a mattress will not slide off when you raise the base to get things out or in.
Sprung slats create friction of their own, so slatted models hold a mattress just as firmly. Many side lift beds also include a small wooden stopper that clips to the open edge and blocks any forward movement. Adding a mattress topper or a fitted protector increases the grip further, and both keep the mattress cleaner at the same time. Match your mattress size to the frame, and you will never think about it again.
FAQs
Are ottoman beds reliable?
Ottoman beds last as long as any quality bed frame, and the gas pistons are the only real wearing part. Replacement pistons cost very little and take around ten minutes to fit.
Are ottoman beds easy to assemble?
Building an ottoman takes roughly the same effort as a standard bed frame, usually about an hour with two people. Ottoman divan bases go quicker, since you clip the two halves together and screw the pistons in.
Do ottoman beds need a headboard?
An ottoman works perfectly well without a headboard, and the storage never depends on one. Most buyers still add a matching headboard to protect the wall and finish the look.
Are ottoman beds expensive?
Ottoman beds are a little bit more expensive than the standard bed frames because of the lift mechanism and the extra timber. The total still works out cheaper than buying a bed plus a separate chest of drawers.
How much can I store in an ottoman bed?
A double ottoman holds roughly the contents of a large wardrobe, and a super king holds noticeably more again. Check the weight limit on the product page, since overloading the compartment strains the pistons.